News, notes and reader questions about the San Francisco 49ers

March 6, 2009

Welcome to "As the T.O. Turns," which earlier in the week was "Warner Watch" and before that was "Vague on Vick." Who else sees a pattern here? Though GM Scot McCloughan yesterday seemed to leave the barn door wide open for Terrell Owens and the circus he would bring, team officials over the past two days have been privately slamming that door shut. It's N.O. on T.O. In other words, don't take that vintage No. 81 jersey out of the bottom of your clothes chest just yet.... And yet, if I were a betting man, I'd say the T.O.-to SF rumors won't go away anytime soon. After all, it's in the best interest of Owens, his agent and the ESPN's of the world to keep it alive. Brace yourselves, 49ers fans ...

What is accurate is that CB Eric Green is in the building today for interviews, physicals, etc. Green also has visited the Titans and his home-town Miami Dolphins. I don't imagine he'd sign a contract today, but you never know.

The 49ers are taking a wait-and-see approach on tight end Billy Bajema. Bajema visited the New York Jets this week and also is drawing interest from the Rams. The 49ers like Bajema, but they are wary of paying too much. The team remains interested in Cowboys free agent tight end Tony Curtis, who also is being eyed by the Rams and Cleveland. There also has been some interest by the 49ers in Cleveland free agent Darnell Dinkins. The Seahawks recently signed their own blocking tight end, John Owens.

The 49ers hired Jason Michael as the team's offensive assistant. Michael was the tight ends coach at the University of Tennessee in 2008. He spent the previous two years with the New York Jets where new 49ers offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye also worked. Michael served as an offensive quality control coach and video assistant for the Raiders in 2005 where Raye was the offensive coordinator.

MATTHEW BARROWS

Matt was born in Blacksburg, Va., and attended the University of Virginia. He graduated in 1995, went to Northwestern for a journalism degree a year later, and got his first job at a South Carolina daily in 1997. He joined The Bee as a Metro reporter in 1999 and started covering the 49ers in 2003. His favorite player of all time is Darrell Green.